Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Indigenous Communities Project Manager

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Interior Regions 6, 7 & 8
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in NPS Regional Office Serving Interior Regions 6,7 and 8, in the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program
Location negotiable after selection. RTCA Program serves projects and partners in the following states Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Wyoming.

RTCA currently has offices in the following locations: Tucson, AZ; Lakewood, CO; Albuquerque, NM; Santa Fe, NM; Austin, TX; Salt Lake City, UT

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/24/2023 to 05/12/2023
Salary
$57,118 to - $107,680 per year

Salary does not include locality pay. For specific wage information, reference the OPM Salaries and Wages link in the Additional Information section.

Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will be paid if the selectee lives outside of the local commuting area and is otherwise eligible for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation. Employer paid and reimbursed relocation expenses are considered taxable income. The NPS does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. Employees should consult professional tax, legal and accounting advisers regarding concerns about the financial implications.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
IM-1539-IMDO-23-11919911-DE
Control number
721446800

Videos

Duties

Help

The purpose of this position is to serve as an Indigenous Communities Project Manager, providing technical planning assistance, coordination, and support on cooperative conservation and outdoor recreation planning projects. The project manager will use cultural competency gained through lived experiences to build working relationships with project partners, including Native American and Indigenous community partners.
Responsibilities may include developing community-based river, trail, greenway and park plans; assisting with local and regional trail and bikeway planning; guiding projects to enhance access to rivers and waterways and supporting natural resource conservation and stewardship across the region. Your duties as an Indigenous Communities Project Manager will include, but are not limited to:

  • Apply your unique and creative skillsets when leading projects related to RTCA's Community Assistance Portfolio including:
  • Build healthy communities through parks, trails, and outdoor opportunities.
  • Conserve natural lands, rivers, and watersheds.
  • Engage youth in outdoor recreation and stewardship.
  • Strengthen the organizational capacity of project partners, including Native American and Indigenous partners.
  • Enhance National Park Service, Native American, and Indigenous community networks.
  • Manage 4-6 community led projects per year working both independently and with other RTCA team members.
  • Maintain a knowledge base of regional and community planning needs, natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation opportunities and challenges, and build relationships with key partners. Effectively build recognition of the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program, leading to RTCA requests for assistance and involvement in innovative natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation projects.
  • Effectively administer and manage project and program work according to RTCA, NPS and government administrative and management requirements and guidelines that promote accountability and overall effectiveness at both the program and project levels.
  • Provide planning and technical assistance to federal, state and local agencies, tribes, and community groups to help create local and regional networks of parks, rivers, trails, greenways and open spaces.
  • Gather in-depth information and perform complex analyses of land use patterns, river and trail corridors, and open space areas for specific projects.
  • Advise the National Park Service and communities on the development of planning methodologies, evaluation of resources, formulation of recommendations, and development of long-range implementation strategies for conservation and recreation planning activities and initiatives.
  • Organize and conduct planning workshops and facilitate meetings and conferences, both in person and virtually, for audienceswith a wide range of subject knowledge and experience.
  • Advise community organizations on techniques and best practices for building sustainable organizations to carry out planning and implementation strategies.
  • Develop networks and build alliances; collaborate across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals. Facilitate public stakeholder participation in planning processes to support development of agreements among diverse interests and organize effective collaborative partnerships.
Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties.
  • If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 7 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • The position to which you will be appointed is subject to a financial disclosure reporting requirement and you will be required to complete a new entrant Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of your appointment.
  • Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-05/12/2023-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

SELECTIVE FACTOR: This position requires knowledge of the National Park Service's historical impact on indigenous communities; experience working with tribal leaders; knowledge of tribal government operations; Knowledge of tribal, local, and national policies and trends that affect communities and shape stakeholders' views, At least one year of onsite experience working, volunteering, or being educated within a tribal or indigenous community and is required. Candidates who do not meet this requirement by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position.
- AND -
To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess at least one or all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the federal service which is in or related to the position to be filled and which provided the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of an Indigenous Communities Program Manager. Examples of specialized experience include assisting in research, resource analysis, mapping graphic design, landscape architecture for projects that may include local and regional trail planning and strategy development, bikeway planning, park and green space planning and design, river and waterway access planning, and natural resource conservation and stewardship efforts
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
Equivalent combination of education and experience. EXAMPLE: Six months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement), plus 45 semester hours of directly-related graduate level education in an accredited educational institution (50% of the qualifying education) equals 100%. (NOTE: Only graduate education in access of 36 semester hours is creditable towards meeting this requirement). You must include transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must possess at least one or all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the federal service which is in or related to the position to be filled and which provided the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of an Indigenous Communities Program Manager. This experience includes activities such as: building relationships with native and indigenous communities, planning for conservation and management of rivers, watersheds, paddling trails, local and regional trails and bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure, and natural areas and parks; and using cultural competency gained through lived experiences to build working relationships with project partners, including Native American and Indigenous community partners.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or have successfully completed three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or possess a LL.M degree,
-OR-
Equivalent combination of education and experience. EXAMPLE: Six months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement), plus 45 semester hours of graduate level education in an accredited educational institution (50% of the qualifying education) equals 100%. (NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of 36 semester hours is creditable towards meeting this requirement). You must include transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level, you must possess at one or all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the federal service which is in or related to the position to be filled and which provided the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of an Indigenous Communities Program Manager. This experience includes activities such as: building relationships with native and indigenous communities; project manager supporting the planning, development of planning methodologies; evaluation of resources, formulation of recommendation, and development of long-range implementation strategies for conservation and management of rivers, watersheds, paddling trails, local and regional trails, bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure, natural areas and parks; using cultural competency gained through lived experiences to build working relationships with project partners, including Native American and Indigenous community partners.
Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.



Additional information

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

Click here for the OPM Salaries and Wages to calculate locality pay.

Employer paid and reimbursed relocation expenses are considered taxable income. The NPS does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. Employees should consult professional tax, legal and accounting advisors regarding concerns about the financial implications of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS).

A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.

A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the National Park Service (NPS) either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and, as such, may be granted in conjunction with one another.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.


Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary. The employee is expected to lead or participate in meetings and field visits in a variety of settings including urban, suburban, rural, and at times, front and backcountry environments.

Working Conditions: Work is performed primarily in an office environment, meeting room or similar setting. Travel may be frequent and involves the normal risks and discomforts of automobile, bus, rail, or air transportation travel.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

  • Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies:
  • External Awareness
  • Foreign Language
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Listening
  • Partnering
  • Public Planning


In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessments, including a panel resume review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.